What is Social Justice?
In the Catechism of the Catholic Church, Part 3 (Life in Christ), Section 1 (Life in the Spirit), Chapter 2 (The Human Community), Article 3 has the title "Social Justice". There is a brief summary at the end of the article:
Society ensures social justice by providing the conditions that allow associations and individuals to obtain their due.
Respect for the human person considers the other "another self." It presupposes respect for the fundamental rights that flow from the dignity intrinsic of the person.
The equality of men concerns their dignity as persons and the rights that flow from it.
The differences among persons belong to God's plan, who wills that we should need one another. These differences should encourage charity.
The equal dignity of human persons requires the effort to reduce excessive social and economic inequalities. It gives urgency to the elimination of sinful inequalities.
Solidarity is an eminently Christian virtue. It practices the sharing of spiritual goods even more than material ones.
The article is not very long and deserves to be read in full. See Full article. Here are brief relevant excerpts from the Compendium of the Social Doctrine of the Church (numbers designate sections):
82: ...the Church aims at a "complete form of humanism"[124], that is to say, at the "liberation from everything that oppresses man" [125] and "the development of the whole man and of all men"[126]...
83: ...These responsibilities belong to the laity in a distinctive manner, by reason of the secular condition of their state of life, and of the secular nature of their vocation[129]. By fulfilling these responsibilities, the lay faithful put the Church's social teaching into action and thus fulfil the Church's secular mission[130].
84: ...This social doctrine is a teaching explicitly addressed to all people of good will[132], and in fact is heard by members of other Churches and Ecclesial Communities, by followers of other religious traditions and by people who belong to no religious group.
The Compendium is available online at Compendium.
The Social Justice Committee focuses on the rights of individuals, families and communities globally. Its central guiding principle is:
The structures and institutions of society are to serve the life, dignity and value of every human person.
Our calling as members of the Catholic Community of Pleasanton is to meet societal needs through acts of charity and to work for fair laws and equitable social structures that benefit and advance the lives of those most in need. We serve God by serving others.
The SJ newsletter seeks to enable social isssues and questions of public policy to be seen in the light of Catholic social teaching. We urge CCOP members to act on the Action Alerts and utilize the service and citizenship opportunities in the Upcoming Events.
